Converting EX-1 HD to SD DVCAM

[Tony Robinson]

The best solution I have found is to edit my XDCAM sequence and then convert to HDV at the end. Send that back to the EX1 via firewire. Then hook DVCAM deck up from EX1 via component and let the EX1 do the SD downconversion either to letterbox or pan-scan.

Tony Robinson

[Kevin Jones]

How are you converting it to HDV?

I use FCP Studio 2 and am looking for the best software solution.
Right now the best results are:

Download shots into FCP with XDCAM Transfer.
Easy Setup set to what I’m shooting.
Edit.
Copy and paste into DV timeline.
Render.
Firewire out to DVCAM DSR-20 deck

This has given mediocre results so far. I’m still looking for something better.

I am monitoring my footage through the firewire to the DVCAM deck through S-video cable to NTSC Tube TV. Not pretty but work very nicely for DV editing.

Going from the EX timeline to the DV timeline is where I am a little fuzzy. Too many options!
Anyone else going out to DVCAM and getting beautiful result please speak-up.
Thanks.

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2

[Tony Robinson]

Kevin,

Experiment with this:

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/ex1_sd_output_young.html

I too am using Final Cut Studio 2. I’ve found dropping the EX1 footage in a DV timeline, rendering and then going out to DVCAM looks horrid.

The process in the link above seems to work great for SD DVD output.

As far as conversion to HDV, I simply create a new sequence using the HDV 1080i 60 easy setup and drop my final XDCAM EX movie in the timeline, render and then print to tape. Looks great.

Tony Robinson

[Bill Ravens]

For those people on a PC, the following software procedure works quite well:
Import your footage, encoded in a lossless intermediate file like CanopusHQ, into VirtualDub. Apply a RESIZE filter with Lanczos selected. Select “deinterlace”. Even if your footage is progressive,, select the deinterlace button. Render.

[David Issko]

Hi Kevin,

There has been quite a lot of discussion concerning HD conversion to SD on the Cow forums with many people in your situation. Some people seem to have found conversion solutions while others maintain that recording DVCAM or whichever SD format from an SD camera (of reasonable quality of course) will still, overall yield the best results. (Best not only limited to picture quality as project speed & mastering solution are important as well)

That does not help your situation as the XD is HD only. It may still be experiment with a few mins of XD footage with different conversion techniques until you find the best solution.

All the best
David Issko